In spite of record liquidity, need for commercial property loans softened in current months, leaving excited lending institutions chasing after less borrowers. As a result, competition among lending institutions has actually ratcheted up visibly with loan rates compressing.

In fact, offer pricing and structures have actually gotten so competitive, a lot of the nation’s banks, including its 25 biggest cumulatively, are beginning to back off from business property loaning.

Federal Reserve data in February first revealed the trends among banks, which held up through the entire quarter. Now in the previous week, bank executives have started providing color and analysis to the data in their first quarter profits conference calls.

First the numbers. The total amount of commercial real estate loans on bank books increased $26.4 billion to $2.1 trillion through the very first quarter from year-end, inning accordance with Federal Reserve data.

However, real estate loan direct exposure in fact drew back at the nation’s 25 biggest banks, dropping off about 1% on an annualized basis. Those 25 savings account for 33% of business real estate bank loans impressive.

Meanwhile, the rest of the nation’s domestic banks continued to grow their loan portfolios by 7% on annualized basis.

The gratitude that has taken place in residential or commercial property values has actually added to a lower level of inventory offered in the market. Deal volume is likewise down as financiers are taking a more careful position in the present environment.

Some banks reported that a majority of their first quarter industrial realty loan production included refinancings. And with rate of interest beginning to climb up, some bankers expect re-financing volume could slow down.

Executives with Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase were among those who kept in mind that prices and loan structures were getting to levels at which they were not comfy matching. Likewise, the extended period of the existing cycle also has bank executives proceeding very carefully.

“It’s not simply rates, it’s just normally we continue to be very selective and mindful given where we remain in the cycle,” said Marianne Lake, CFO of JPMorgan Chase. “In the CTL [credit renter lease] space and commercial real estate space more generally that’s where the competition truly has actually stepped up really substantially and that is where rates has become fiercely competitive … and is in compression.”

Rates is 20 to 30 basis points lower than what it was 6 months ago, lenders noted.

Terry Dolan, vice chairman and CFO of U.S. Bank, stated, “The risk-reward dynamics in business real estate remain undesirable in our view, especially in multifamily and certain locations of industrial home loan financing. That discipline is influencing choices to not extend credit on unfavorable terms; and [it is] contributing to the elevated pay down pressures driven by consumers accessing the secondary market.”

Part of the slowdown likewise comes from a deliberate choice on the part of banks to balanc their loan portfolios by shifting away from business realty loaning in favor of enhancing their general commercial service loaning, bankers stated.

“We had our greatest quarter ever in terms of loan production with a record $1.1 billion in new loan commitments and brand-new loan dispensations of $764 million. We are likewise very happy with the improved production mix of 45% industrial realty, 31% C&I [industrial and industrial] and 24% consumer, with the majority of our production this quarter originating from our non-CRE classifications,” said Kevin S. Kim, president and CEO of Bank of Hope in Los Angeles. “Our company believe these outcomes show the advantages of our financial investments over the in 2015 in our C&I [commercial and industrial] and domestic home mortgage platform and talent.”

In the past, closer to 60% of the bank’s loan production volume would have originated from industrial realty. This quarter the bank saw its loan totals decline 2% in multifamily assets and 1% in retail properties.

Even smaller local banks are taking that technique. Alabama-based ServisFirst Bank reported commercial and commercial service providing growth and a decrease in commercial real estate loans. Thomas Broughton, CEO of the bank, said the reduction resulted mostly from a reduction in realty building loan balances.

“We want C&I to be the predominant possession class of our balance sheet; it’s certainly more foreseeable,” Broughton said. “We think it has lower loss potential in a decline.”

Where business realty loaning activity did see a slight pickup was from banks in the Northeast.

“For CRE we saw a bit of more development in New Jersey and upstate New york city and in city or New York City,” stated Darren King, executive vice president and CFO of M&T Bank.

That growth was coming from continued need for storage facility and multifamily space and development in assisted living and skilled nursing.

“Storage facility capability is more in need since that’s how [retail] client requirements are being fulfilled,” King stated. “Then among the other macro trends that continue is people moving back into urban centers, particularly the millennials and empty nesters, which’s driving demand for multifamily.”

What lenders were reporting in their profits calls synced up with exactly what the Federal Reserve is reporting in its latest study of economic conditions, described as the beige book, released yesterday.

Banks in the New york city District reported strong real estate demand but with volume constrained by low and decreasing inventories. Small- to medium-sized banks in the District reported greater demand for industrial mortgages, and C&I loans.

Banks in the Atlanta District also kept in mind that commercial acquisitions slowed due to troubles over rates.

Dallas bankers, though, noted that general loan volumes and need increased at a faster pace over the past six weeks, with considerably stronger growth in loan volumes seen in commercial real estate.